The 35th FS is one of two squadrons of Block 40 F-16C/Ds at Kunsan, flying the Fighting Falcon since 1981. The 35th is one of the oldest squadrons in the United States Air Force, its history dating to 12 June 1917, when the unit was activated as the 35th Aero Squadron.[1]
History
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World War I
The 35th Aero Squadron was a significant unit of the United States during World War I, rather than the 35th Fighter Squadron referred to previously. It was formed on June 12, 1917, and was initially involved in construction duties, repairing war-damaged French villages, and working in salvage yards in France [1]. The 35th Aero Squadron was moved to several different French aerodromes throughout 1917 and 1918, where they served in various non-combat capacities, such as assembling aircraft, maintaining vehicles, and ferrying pilots [2]. After the end of WWI, the 35th was demobilized in 1919 without seeing any combat action but made significant contributions to the war effort in a supportive capacity [3].
References:
1. Maurer, M. (1978). The U.S. Air Service in World War I, Volume I. Office of Air Force History.
2. Gorrell, C.M. (1919). "History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919". National Archives and Records Service.
3. Series "E", Volume 16, History of the 27th-44th Aero Squadrons. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Inter-war years
The 35th Fighter Squadron was constituted as the 35th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939 [1]. It was activated on 1 February 1940 at Moffett Field, California, where it was assigned to the 8th Pursuit Group [2]. Initially, the squadron trained new pilots and conceded their personnel to other units [3].
In 1941, the 35th Pursuit Squadron moved to Hamilton Field, California. Here they transitioned to aircraft like the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the Bell P-39 Airacobra, in anticipation of potential involvement in World War II [4]. Their duties involved coastal defense and training, ensuring a state of readiness for the upcoming conflict [5].
Please note that these records are intricate, and some information might not be fully clear due to the rushed and challenging circumstances of the early 1940s.
References:
1. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (1983). Office of Air Force History.
2. Maurer, Maurer (1961). Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. USAF Historical Division.
3. "35 FS". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 4 April 2008.
4. Schlight, John (1969). "Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: 8th Fighter Wing: Evolution of a Successful Commando fighter unit". Office of Air Force History.
5. Shiner. "Foulois and the U.S. Army Air Corps 1931–1935". Office of Air Force History.
World War II
The 35th Fighter Squadron along with the 8th Pursuit Group and 22nd Airbase Group left San Francisco in Convoy Number 2033, escorted by USS New Orleans, for Australia on 12 February 1942 on the Army transport USAT Maui arriving with the convoy at Brisbane, Australia on 5 March 1942.[3] The squadron has never been stationed in the United States since. It arrived in Brisbane, Queensland on 6 March 1942. After arrival, it moved to Amberley Airfield, west of Brisbane, where it was equipped with Bell P-39D Airacobras that were originally intended to go to the Philippines but the convoy carrying them was diverted to Brisbane.
They then moved to Woodstock Airport, Queensland outside of Townsville in northern Queensland on 26 April 1942 on their way to Port Moresby, New Guinea where they arrived on 30 April 1942. There, the squadron operated from a gravel fighter strip constructed by the Australians in the 1930s called Kila Kila Airfield (3 Mile Drome). After two months in combat, the squadron rotated back to Australia, returning to Woodstock on 29 June 1942 for various rest and re-equipment tasks. They relocated to Garbutt Field in Townsville on 27 July 1942 and then moved to Milne Bay in New Guinea on 18 September 1942 after the airfield was secured from the Japanese. It again engaged in combat operations against Japanese forces with its P-39s until rotated back to Queensland, being sent to Mareeba Airfield in February 1943 as its Airacobras were basically worn-out. At Mareeba, the squadron was re-equipped with Curtiss P-40N Warhawks before leaving Australia for good in May and heading back to Port Moresby.
In New Guinea, the squadron covered landings and supported offensive ground operations in New Britain, New Guinea, and Hollandia, with the group moving forward to different bases as territory was captured from the Japanese. At Cape Gloucester, the P-40s were replaced by Lockheed P-38F Lightnings that were ferried up from Australia. It was with the P-38 that the 8th Fighter Group became truly effective both against the Japanese Zero in air-to-air battles, as well as providing ground support to MacArthur's ground forces. Its twin engines offered an additional safety factory when operating over long stretches of water and jungle. The Lightnings proved to be extremely rugged and could take a lot of battle damage and still keep flying. Missions lasting 9, 10, or even 12 hours became routine, and many wounded Lightnings were able to limp home on only one engine.
In 1944, the 35th supported operations in the Philippines, earning a second Distinguished Unit Citation when, armed only with machine guns, the Lightnings of the 8th Fighter Group strafed a Japanese naval task force for three hours, halting the ships until North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers from more distant bases could attack the task force with low-level bomb runs Despite the fact that the group did not have time to load bombs on its fighters and used only .50 caliber bullets on the mission, the 8th managed to sink one of the Japanese ships.
After moving to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines in December 1944, the 35th spent the next several months conducting offensive operations against Formosa and the Asian mainland, as well as flying escort missions in the area. Moving to Ie Shima Airfield in August 1945, the 8th flew several missions against the Japanese island of Kyushu before the war ended.
On 14 August 1945, the day of the Japanese surrender, the 35th Fighter Squadron shot down the last enemy plane of the war. During its involvement in World War II, the 35th participated in nine campaigns.
Korean War
Lockheed F-80 near Mount Fuji in 1950[note 2]A 35th FBS F-86 Sabre in Korea, 1953
"When the Korean War began, the redesignated 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron entered combat. Once on the offensive, the 35th moved from base to base in Korea, flying the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star and later the North American F-86 Sabre. At one time, the 35th was stationed at Pyongyang, now the capital of North Korea."[4]
On 17 November 2000, the 35th Fighter Squadron received its first Block 40 F-16s. The new aircraft carry Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, pods. The 35th completed the conversion in February 2001.[4]
Lineage
Organized as the 35th Aero Squadron on 12 June 1917
Demobilized on 19 March 1919
Reconstituted and redesignated 35th Pursuit Squadron on 24 March 1923
Activated on 25 June 1932
Redesignated 35th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter) on 6 December 1939
Redesignated 35th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 12 March 1941
Redesignated 35th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 35th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 19 February 1944
Redesignated 35th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 8 January 1946
Redesignated 35th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 1 January 1950
Redesignated 35th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1958
Redesignated 35th Fighter Squadron on 3 February 1992[1]
Assignments
Unknown 12 June 1917
Third Aviation Instruction Center, November 1917
Unknown, January 1919 – 19 Mar 1919
8th Pursuit Group (later 8th Fighter Group, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group), 25 June 1932 (attached to 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing after 1 February 1957)
8th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 8th Tactical Fighter) Wing, 1 October 1957 (attached to 41st Air Division, after 13 May 1964)
41st Air Division, 18 June 1964 (attached to 2d Air Division, 24 September – 20 November 1964)
6441st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 April 1965 (attached to 2d Air Division, 4 May – 26 June 1965 and 19 October – 15 November 1965)
41st Air Division, 15 November 1966
347th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15 January 1968 (attached to Detachment 1, 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, 10 June – 16 July 1968, 22 August – 1 October 1968, 22 November – 26 December 1968, 21 March – 23 April 1969, 30 June – 6 August 1969, 17 October – 29 November 1969, 30 January – 7 March 1970, 8–30 May 1970, 11 July – 8 August 1970, 2–30 October 1970, and 26 December 1970 – 23 January 1971)
Yokota Air Base, Japan, 13 May 1964 (deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 24 September – 20 November 1964; Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand 4 May – 25 June 1965, 19 October – 15 November 1965; Osan Air Base, South Korea, 10 June – 16 July 1968, 22 August – 1 October 1968, 23 November – 26 December 1968, 21 March – 23 April 1969, 30 June – 6 August 1969, 17 October – 29 November 1969, 30 January – 7 March 1970, 8–30 May 1970, 11 July – 8 August 1970, 2–30 October 1970 and 26 December 1970 – 23 January 1971))
Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, 15 March 1971 – present (deployed to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, 3 April – 12 June 1972; Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand 13 June-c. 12 October 1972)[1]
United States
United States Air Force
